Charles Jeffrey LOVERBOY drops debut album “Neko” – PAPER
Mon 31 Oct
Charles Jeffrey LOVERBOY’s creativity knows no bounds, from drunk grannies to wheat manicures. The LVMH Prize shortlisted designer, who interweaves his own Scottish heritage with a vibrantly queer point of view, has consistently shown himself to be one to think outside of the box with each new collection. Now, the London Fashion Week darling is making the leap into the world of music with the release of their debut album, Neko.
Coinciding with the launch of LOVERBOY’s Fall 2022 Art of Noise collection, which explores the designer’s adoration of music and the physical, emotional and cultural ways it has influenced his work, Neko comes as the sonic extension of this world that Jeffrey describes as “a multi-genre mash up of electronic-meets-disco-meets-cinema-meets-grime-meets-screamo-meets-slapstick/comedy.” In short, he says, “It’s got everything.”
Inviting a host of collaborators into the fold such as former member of The Horrors, Tom Furse, and multidisciplinary artist Robert Fox, the album presents an eclectic mix of sounds and styles ranging from distorted industrial outbursts, Vincent Price-esque monologues over orchestral swells, disco-kissed synth pop, jibberish screamo and more.
“From what I remember, we met six times in total and managed to get it all tied up,” Jeffrey recalls. “We had a deadline to get it finished which was important, we could have gone on and on with our creative processes. Robert and I are like magnets when we are together we always gravitate towards performing, pretending to be different people, focusing on the word, ‘Heron.’ It always feels a bit Mighty Boosh. Tom and I also share a similar vibe in which we find ourselves being really inspired by what we do. Our viewpoints are intertwined. I honestly think Tom has one of most amazing minds.”
Then Jeffrey brought in Fi McClusckey, who he says “makes me cackle and have goosebumps simultaneously,” rapper TaliaBle, “who was literally my Vis-Com intern a year prior,” and Raven Bush, “who provided the most delicious strings,” to create what he describes as richer depth to the record. “Everything seemed to fall into place so nicely when creating, our working process was really efficient.”
With visual nods to Elvira, What We Do in the Shadows and other goth/art house horror tropes, Nekofittingly arrives just in time for Halloween with the addition of a new video for the TaliaBle featuring “Blast.” Directed by collaborator Robert Fox, the visual is a monochromatic David Lynch-ian frenzy of cars speeding down the highway, wild eyes and gnashing teeth before getting bewilderingly dropped down in the relative liminal calm of the London tube.